Animated sign



Dec. 14, 1937. H R. VAN DEVENTER ET AL 02,243

ANIMATED S IGN Filed Sept. 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HIIRRY R VmvDEm-NTER 8 JOHN d. 5H/ YELY.

ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED SIGN Application September 6, 1935, Serial No. 39,360

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in animated signs.

An object of the invention is to provide a display sign in which a succession of images may be automatically presented to view.

Another object is to provide a sign of the above type in which the successive images are disposed on a strip of film or the like.

A further object is to provide means by which the images may be illuminated from the rear.

A still further object is to provide a structure comprising luminous gaseous tubes, such as neon tubes, and suitable reflecting system so disposed that images or symbols on the film may appear as successive luminous tube signs.

Another purpose is to provide means by which the film may be moved steadily to display a continuous advertising message or the like disposed throughout its entire length.

Another object is to provide suitable means by which the film may be automatically rewound and restarted on its active cycle, by which a suitable dwell is provided during the display of each individual image, and by which the light is extinguished while changing images and during rewinding.

Other objects and advantages will appear during the course of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

v Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with the exterior partially broken away;

Figure 2 is a detail View of the driving motor, clutches and gearings; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic layout of the mechanical elements and electrical circuits.

Referring to Figure 1, a base H), which may be of insulating material, has mounted thereon a removable casing H, and an internal frame [2 shown broken away to disclose the parts behind it. The outer casing II has an aperture l3 provided with a transparent closure l4 of glass or the like. An upper roller l5 and a lower roller 5 are mounted respectively on shafts I1 and I8 journalled in the frame l2. The rollers l5 and i6 carry grooved pulleys l9 and 20 connected by belts 2| and 22 to driving pulleys 24 and 23 which are journalled on shafts 26 and 25 and adapted to be coupled thereto by means of magnetic clutches 28 and 21.

A drive motor 29 carries on its shaft a pinion 30 meshing with a gear 3| on the shaft 25, while shaft 25 also carries a pinion 32 meshing with a gear 33 on shaft 26 as shown in Figure 2. It is I evident that when the motor 29 is running the shaft 25 is driven in one direction at reduced speed, while the shaft 26 is driven in the opposite direction at doubly reduced speed.

Mounted on the base it! is a flasher 34 provided with a motor 35 adapted to drive through any suitable speed reducing means a shaft 34a carrying commutators 36, 31, and 38 as shown diagrammatically in Figure 3. The commutators 36, 31, and 38 are provided with slip rings 39, 49, and 4E connected to theirperipheral con-. ducting segments 42, 43, and 44 respectively. Contact brushes 45, 46, and 4? engage the slip rings in the order named, while brushes 48 and 49 are adapted to engage the segments 42 and 43 respectively. Two angularly spaced brushes 50 and 5| are provided to engage the segment 44 for reasons hereinafter explained.

The numeral 52 indicates a transformer connected by leads 90 to a luminous tube grid 53 provided with a suitable reflector 54, preferably of the split parabolic type described and claimed in application Serial No. 22,333. The grid 53 is clamped to a panel of glass or other transparent or'translucent material 55 supported in rails 55a forming part of the frame l2. The panel 55 registers with the aperture 13 in the outer casing l I.

A strip film 56 of non-conducting transparent or translucent material is wound on the rollers l5 and I6, the extreme ends thereof being secured to the rollers by any suitable means such as a strip clamp or by acetone or other adhesive.

The film 56 has along one side a series of slots or perforations 51 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of images 56a on the film 56. Brushes 58 and 59, mounted adjacent the rollers l5 and I6 but normally insulated therefrom, are adapted to engage the slots 51. A third brush 65, insulatedly mounted on the upper rail 55a, is also adapted to engage slots 51 so as to spring through them and make contact with a similarly mounted metal platen 6|. Brushes 58 and 59 are connected by means of leads 62 and 68 respectively to magnets 69 and 63 of a magnetic switch 91. The rollers l5 and iii are of metal and may be connected to one feeder i3 of a current supply in any suitable manner such as by connecting F3 to the frame l2, but to clarify the diagram, Figure 3, leads 93 and 94 are shown connecting feeder 13 to brushes 93a and 9417. making contact with the rollers.

In operation, assuming the film to be rewound on the lower roller l6 until only part of one wrap remains on the upper roller l5, the last notch 51 upon registering with the brush 58 allows the latter to make contact with the roller l5. A circuit is thereby closed from feeder 61 through the magnet 68, lead 62, brush 58, roller I5, and lead 93 back to the feeder 13. The magnet 69 is ener- 28 engages.

new drive the roller l5 clockwise, moving the film upward. I

As a picture or sign on the film comes into registry with the aperture I3 the brush Ell penetrates a slot 51 and makes contact with the platen 6|. This closes a circuit through the lead 84, brush 60, platen 6|, lead 83, switch 15, lead 82, magnet 19, lead 8|, commutator 38, and lead 11 to the feeder l3.v The magnet 19 is thereby energized throwing the switch 18 to the left, which per-forms the following functions:

The-circuit is broken between leads 85 and 86,

thus throwing out the clutch 28 andstopping the A connection is established between leads 8'1.

and 88, starting the flasher motor 35. The commutator 36 revolves, counter-clockwise, brush 48 engaging segment and thereby energizing the transformer 52 which illuminates the grid 53.

At the'same time segment 44 on commutator 38 breaks contact with brush-5|, de-energizing the magnet 19 and allowing switch 18 to throw to the rightas shown. This closes the'connectionfrom 85 to'86, but as segment 44 has previously broken contact with brush 58 as described, the clutch 28 remains disengaged. The throw of switch 18 alsoopens the connection from 81 to '88, but the commutator 3.1 has meanwhile established a parallel connection through brush 49 so 5 that the flasher motor 35 continues to run.

The sign now remains illuminated with the film stationary until the flasher shaft 340. andits commutators have made nearly a complete revolution, when segment .44 encounters brush "58,

engaging clutch 28 as before and moving slot '5'! out of registry with brush 68.

Finally segment 44 contacts brush 5| and commutator 31 breaks the circuit of the flasher motor 35, stopping the commutators in the position shown in Figure 3. 7 V v The'film 56 continues to'move upward until the next slot 51 allows the brush 6|] again to contact platen 6|, repeating the entire cycle as described. j

When the film has wound upward until only the inner wrap remains on roller l6 the brush 7 "59 penetrates the last slot 51 establishing a cir- .cuit through magnet 63 and throwing arm 66 clockwise. Arm 66 breaks contact with point 1|, thus cutting offall current to the transformer, flashing mechanism and clutch 28, and engages point 12 to energize the clutch 21. e 23, belt 22 and'pulley 20 new drive the roller |6 counter-clockwise and rewindingthe film upward until the last slot 51 on the upper end of the film registers with upper brush 58, when the entire operating cycle is repeated as described.

7 At the same time commutator 36 breaks the transformer circuit.

The pulley To summarize, the device automatically regis ters a succession of images in the sign, each image;

being illuminated and displayed for a lengthof time necessary for the flasher shaft to complete slightly less than one revolution. The sign .is

' darkened while the images are changed, and

when the entire series has been completed the film rewinds, the sign also being dark during rewinding. i V

. In case it is desired to illuminate a continuous reading sign the switch15 is thrown downward.

This cuts the circuit to the platen 6|, disabling ill the intermittent mechanism. At the same time a circuit is made around the commutator 36.

The sign is now controlled entirely by the upper and lower brushes 58 and 59 and the magnets 69 and 63. The film moves alternately down and up throughout its entire length, the grid being illuminated only during the upward motion. It

isobvious that if desired the device may be constructed to allow the working or illuminatedpe:

riod to occur during downward movement and the rewind to be upward. Due to the gearing arrangement shown, the rewind occurs-at speed than the working motion.

higheri It will-be noted that the upper and lower brushes can make contact with their respective rollersonly when a singlethickness of film is on improper actuation of rollers only by the last fslots51 on therespective ends of the film 56.. However'g when the film is intended only for continuouswind and rewind operation as described, the slots 51 may be omitted, the contact being madewith the-bare under the brushes. V 7

While the invention has-been described in preferredformit is not limited to the precise structures shown, as various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. a 'What is claimed is: e

1. In' a display device in combination, a pair of laterally spaced rollers ,having conductingsurfaces, a film of insulating material spirally rollable on said rollers and having its opposite ends attached respectively thereto, said film having a perforation in its first lap on'each of said rollers, means to alternately drive said rollers whereby said film'may be rolled backjand forth between them, and electrical control means forsaid driving means including a brush adjacent each roller and adapted to make contact with the conducting face thereof through said perforation whereby rollers asthe fastened ends of the filmrun from a' circuit may be established while retainin'ga portion of said film on said 'roller behindsaid brush, the second laps of said film on saidrollers being adapted to override said prforatlonsto break said contacts. I

2. In an electrical control device, switching means includinga roller having a conducting surface, an insulating film spirally rollable thereon and having a perforation in its first lap," and means to makecontact with said surface through lished, the second lap of said film 'on said'roller HARRY R. VAN DEVENTER. JOHN J. SHIVELY. j,

. said perforation whereby. acircuit may be'estab 

